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Planning to visit the historical city of Malacca? This guidebook, with its well-drawn maps and handy travel tips, will help you find places to visit, hotels, guesthouses, transportation, restaurants and the best shopping haunts around.
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| Help Save the Clouded Leopard! |
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| The Clouded Leopard is a medium-sized cat, measuring 55 to 110 cm long and weighing between 15 and 23 kg. It is characterized by a tan or tawny coat, distinctively marked with large, irregularly-shaped, dark-edged ellipses which are said to be shaped like "clouds". It is found in southern China, the eastern Himalayas, north-east India and mainland Southeast Asia, where it prefers tropical and subtropical forests. Its prey includes the sambar and muntjac deer, birds, bearded pigs, civet, monkeys, gibbons, squirrels, porcupines, fish, domestic cattle and chicken. Considered an endangered species, it is threatened by habitat loss due to widespread deforestation and hunting for use in Chinese medicinal preparations. |
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| What's an a4trip guidebook? |
| An a4trip guidebook is a travel guide that'll provide you with the information you'll need to plan your trip and to find your way around. Our guidebooks are downloadable in PDF format, and are designed to be so compact, you can take it with you everywhere you go. |
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| Malacca, The Historical City |
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| by Lee Sue Ann, freelance writer |
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Malacca, known as "The Historical City", is located in the southern region of Peninsula Malaysia on the Straits of Malacca, the state was founded by Parameswara, a Srivijayan prince who fled Sumatera after an attack on Majapahit. According to legend, he was resting under a Malacca tree when one of his dogs cornered a mousedeer. In self-defense, the mousedeer pushed the dog into the river. Impressed by the act of courage and taking the incident as a good omen, Parameswara decided to set up an empire at the place he was sitting.
Its strategic location as a regional port made Malacca famous during the 16th century. As a result, there was a continuous tussle among the western powers of that era to seize it and Malacca eventually came under the reign of the Portuguese, Dutch and English. A trip to Malacca isn't complete without a trip to the historical buildings and sites. The Stadhuys building is probably the most popular due to its vibrant red colour that would make anyone stop to take a picture in front of it. Next are suggested visits to the A'Famosa fortress built by the Portuguese, the Dutch fort, the St.Paul's Church, the Portuguese Square and the Maritime Museum Complex (Flor de la Mar).
Hang Tuah was a legendary warrior who was the greatest of all the Sultan's admirals. He and his childhood friends, Hang Jebat, Hang Lekir, Hang Lekiu and Hang Kasturi, became Malacca's most illustrious and feared members of the Sultan's royal guard. Visit their mausoleums as well as Hang Tuah's well, where it said to be the abode of his soul which takes the apparition of a white crocodile. Also, take a peek at the Malacca Sultanate Palace and the Chinese Hill which was the residence of Princess Hang Li Po who was sent by the Emperor to marry Sultan Mahmud Shah as a mark of the diplomatic relationship between Malacca and China. Hang Li Po's well is also unique as it purportedly never dried up in the olden days and it is believed that those who make a wish by throwing coins into it will return to Malacca again and again.
Once you have satisfied your penchant for history, take a cruise down the Malacca river which was once dubbed 'The Venice of Asia'. Or take in the sights of the Malacca town by riding in a trishaw! Then, head over to the A'Famosa theme park where the whole family can relax and unwind at the water park, animal safari, cowboy town and even an opportunity to be brought to the skies in their open cockpit plane! Your next destination should be the ASEAN Mini Garden where you can view the replicas of traditional Malaysian houses, costumes and handicraft.
Even before Parameswara founded Malacca, traders plying the Straits of Malacca route have been stopping for food supplies in Malacca due to its strategic location. Inter-racial marriages between the Chinese and Indian traders with the locals have resulted in two unique communities: the Peranakan and the Chitty respectively. The Peranakan and Chitty are descendants of early Chinese and Indian immigrants who adopted Malay customs in an effort to be assimilated into the local communities. While retaining their religion, beliefs, names and festival celebrations, they converse in Malay and wear Malay traditional costumes. There are also Portuguese settlements in Ujong Pasir. Come in February for the annual water festival of Intrudu and have a great time getting drenched and splashing each other! You will also see each and every home most beautifully lighted up and decorated during Christmas.
Good food is abundant in Malacca. Malacca is known for its chicken rice ball, where the rice is rolled into balls and served piping hot with steamed chicken. The cendol at Jonker Street is also to die for; the thick palm syrup poured over shaved ice is surely to make you drool on a hot sunny day. And while you are at Jonker walk, do remember to take a shop for antiques, handicraft and other knick-knacks. The aroma of freshly baked pineapple tarts there will surely pull you over to the shops. Satay celup, which is only found in Malacca, is an assortment of raw and semi-cooked seafood, meat and vegetables on skewers dunked into a boiling pot of water and eaten with sauce that is similar to satay sauce. And last but not least on your food list is the mouth-watering range of Peranakan cuisine, namely Chicken Kapitan, Inchi Kabin, Pong Teh Chicken and Pai Tee.
Malacca has everything that a traveller would want; leisure, culture, food and what is not found in any other state, its history being the first Malaysian state.
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